NASA Langley joins Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing

PARIS, June 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- PARIS AIR SHOW -- NASA Langley Research Center and the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) today announced that NASA will join CCAM as a government member.

The move will create opportunities for joint participation in research and development of new surface engineering technologies and manufacturing systems.

NASA's expertise, combined with the manufacturing capabilities of CCAM members, will speed the process of bringing novel technologies to market sooner. These developments will have applications in the aerospace industry, space exploration, satellite system development, consumer products and beyond.

"Throughout history NASA Langley has been a pioneer in innovation," said Armand F. Lauzon Jr., chairman of the CCAM board. "With its vast expertise and guidance, and the CCAM industry partners' manufacturing and technology leadership, we are poised for new developments in the core CCAM areas of manufacturing systems and surface technologies."

"These developments will have broad ranging impacts critical to NASA and industry, including the ability to strengthen composites and fortify alloys and metals, and improve manufactured fuselages, space vehicle equipment, satellite components and other equipment."

Lesa Roe, NASA Langley's director, said, "Our collaboration with CCAM will combine the strengths of NASA in basic science and applications critical to aeronautics and space exploration, with the proven advanced manufacturing engineering and technology capabilities of the CCAM membership. This combination is critical in translating new ideas into commercial practice as quickly and cost-effectively as possible."

CCAM is a public-private partnership between dozens of industry partners and the University of Virginia, Virginia State University and Virginia Tech.

Dr. Michael Beffel, CCAM president and executive director, called the collaboration "significant for the future of materials and manufacturing – and extremely beneficial to both NASA and industry."

Research and development will take place at the CCAM center near Richmond, Va., and at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., as collaborative work between NASA, CCAM researchers and industry and university members.

Research is underway in surface engineering and new manufacturing systems. About 50 student interns from Virginia's participating universities are working with industry experts in research areas at the facility and in labs around the state.

The CCAM facility is next to the 1,000-acre campus of the Rolls-Royce engine component manufacturing facilities, Rolls-Royce Crosspointe in Prince George County.

About CCAMCCAM is a research-based collaboration between the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia State University and manufacturing companies worldwide. Manufacturers join CCAM as members and guide research leveraging both university faculty and CCAM scientists in two focus areas: surface engineering and manufacturing systems. CCAM recently completed a 62,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art research facility in Prince George County, Va., adjacent to Rolls-Royce's jet engine components plant. CCAM took occupancy of the research center on September 11, 2012. For more information, visit www.ccam-va.com.